# Edgar Scherick

Edgar J. Scherick (October 16, 1924 – December 2, 2002) was an American television executive and producer of television miniseries, made-for-television films, and theatrical motion pictures.

## Life and career

Scherick was born in New York City, the son of Jennie (née Friedman) and Jacob J. Scherick. He was raised in Long Beach, NY and graduated Long Beach High School in 1941.
Widely credited as a pioneer in network sports broadcasting, Scherick created the television program ABC's Wide World of Sports at his company Sports Programs, Inc. which he started in 1956 with $600.00. In February 1960, Scherick sold Sports Programs to the American Broadcasting Company for $500,000 in ABC stock, where it became ABC Sports, the sports division of the network. With the acquisition, Scherick was appointed head of the ABC Sports division, then Vice President in charge of Network Sales. In June 1963, Scherick became Vice President of Programming for the ABC Television Network, where he created many popular shows including Bewitched, Batman, That Girl, The Hollywood Palace, and Peyton Place.
After his television career, Edgar Scherick became a film and television producer and executive producer of 75 theatrical films, television movies and mini-series through his company Palomar Pictures International and other entities.
In 1983, Scherick had a cameo role as Wilson Crockett, a network television executive, in the Martin Scorsese film, The King of Comedy.
By January 2, 1990, Scherick had gone to work with Saban Entertainment through its Saban/Scherick Productions division, which was for mostly television movies and mini-series
Scherick hired and served as a mentor to many famous television and theatrical producers and industry executives including Roone Arledge, Brian Grazer, Scott Rudin, Michael Barnathan, Robert Lawrence and David Nicksay.
He died of complications from leukaemia on December 2, 2002.

## Awards and nominations

Scherick's television body of work includes 6 Emmy nominations and one winning Emmy:
* 2002: Outstanding Made For Television Movie – Path To War
* 1990: Outstanding Miniseries – The Kennedys of Massachusetts
* 1986: Outstanding Miniseries – On Wings of Eagles
* 1984: Outstanding Children's Program – He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (Winner)
* 1983: Outstanding Drama Special – Little Gloria...Happy at Last
* 1977: Outstanding Special – Drama or Comedy – Raid on Entebbe The Big Event
Many of the theatrical releases that Scherick produced or credited as Executive Producer were nominated for an Academy Award:
* 1968: Best Song (original for the picture) – For Love of Ivy (Quincy Jones, Bob Russell)
* 1972: Best Actor – Sleuth (Michael Caine)
* 1972: Best Actor – Sleuth (Laurence Olivier)
* 1972: Best Director – Sleuth (Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
* 1972: Best Original Dramatic Score - Sleuth (John Addison)
* 1972: Best Actor in a Supporting Role - The Heartbreak Kid (Eddie Albert)
* 1972: Best Actress in a Supporting Role - The Heartbreak Kid (Jeannie Berlin)
* 1977: Best Screenplay (based on material from another medium) – I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (Gavin Lambert, Lewis John Carlino)
* 1983: Best Documentary - He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (Emile Ardolino, Producer)
* 1991: Best Actress in a Leading Role - Rambling Rose (Laura Dern)
* 1991: Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Rambling Rose (Diane Ladd)
The film "He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'" is unique as it was for 31 years, the only production to win both an Oscar and an Emmy. Scherick won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program as Executive Producer but due to Academy rules, only the credited "Producer" (not Executive Producer) is eligible for a Best Picture Oscar award.
One film that Scherick was credited as Executive Producer, Path to War from 2002' was nominated for the Global Globe Award for Best Television Motion Picture. It was the last film Scherick produced during his lifetime.
In 1997, the Producers Guild of America presented Scherick with their "Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television," recognizing his outstanding body of work and lifetime achievement in this medium.
Scherick also served as chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame beginning in 1988.

## Select filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

### Film

| Year | Film | Credit | Notes |
| 1968 | For Love of Ivy | | |
| 1968 | The Birthday Party | Executive producer | |
| 1969 | Ring of Bright Water | Executive producer | |
| 1969 | A Touch of Love | Executive producer | |
| 1969 | Take the Money and Run | Executive producer | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Jenny | | |
| 1970 | Homer | Executive producer | |
| 1972 | What Became of Jack and Jill? | Executive producer | |
| 1972 | To Kill a Clown | Executive producer | |
| 1972 | The Darwin Adventure | Executive producer | |
| 1972 | Sleuth | Executive producer | Remade in 2007 |
| 1972 | The Heartbreak Kid | | Remade in 2007 |
| 1973 | Gordon's War | Executive producer | |
| 1974 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three | | Remade in 1998 for television and 2009 as a theatrical film |
| 1974 | Law and Disorder | Executive producer | |
| 1975 | The Stepford Wives | | Remade in 2004 |
| 1977 | I Never Promised You a Rose Garden | | |
| 1979 | Fish Hawk | Executive producer | |
| 1980 | The American Success Company | | |
| 1982 | Shoot the Moon | Executive producer | |
| 1982 | I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can | | |
| 1982 | White Dog | Executive producer | |
| 1983 | He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' | Executive producer | Film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature |
| 1984 | Reckless | | |
| 1984 | Mrs. Soffel | | |
| 1991 | Rambling Rose | Executive producer | Final film as a producer |
| 2004 | The Stepford Wives | | Posthumous credit |

#### As an actor

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1982 | The King of Comedy | Wilson Crockett |

#### Miscellaneous crew

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1979 | Fish Hawk | Presenter |

### Television

| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
| 1953 | Major League Baseball on ABC | | |
| 1970 | The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1972 | When Michael Calls | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1974 | Ann in Blue | | Television film |
| 1975 | The Silence | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1976 | Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1976 | Raid on Entebbe | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1977 | A Circle of Children | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1977 | Panic in Echo Park | | Television film |
| 1977 | ABC Weekend Special | | |
| 1978 | Zuma Beach | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1978 | Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1979 | An American Christmas Carol | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1980 | Mother and Daughter: The Loving War | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1980 | The Seduction of Miss Leona | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1980 | Revenge of the Stepford Wives | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1982 | Thou Shalt Not Kill | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1982 | Little Gloria... Happy at Last | Executive producer | |
| 1983 | He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' | Executive producer | Won Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program |
| 1985 | Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1985 | Evergreen | Executive producer | |
| 1986 | On Wings of Eagles | Executive producer | |
| 1986 | The High Price of Passion | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1987 | Stranger in My Bed | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1987 | The Stepford Children | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1987 | Hands of a Stranger | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1987 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1987 | Home Fires | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1988 | Stranger on My Land | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1988 | Lovers, Partners & Spies | Executive producer | Television pilot |
| 1988 | Unholy Matrimony | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1990 | Anything to Survive | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1990 | The Kennedys of Massachusetts | Executive producer | |
| 1990 | The Secret Life of Ian Fleming | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1990 | The Phantom of the Opera | Executive producer | |
| 1990 | The Girl Who Came Between Them | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1990 | The Rock | Executive producer | |
| 1991 | Fever | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1991 | The Rape of Doctor Willis | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1992 | Till Death Us Do Part | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1992 | Scorch | Executive producer | |
| 1992 | Quiet Killer | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1992 | Nightmare in the Daylight | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1992 | Four Eyes and Six Guns | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1994 | Betrayed by Love | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1994 | A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1995 | The Good Old Boys | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1995 | Tyson | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1996 | The Stepford Husbands | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1996 | The Siege at Ruby Ridge | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1996 | We the Jury | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1998 | The Wall | Executive producer | Television film |
| 2002 | Path to War | Executive producer | Television film |

#### As an actor

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Murder: By Reason of Insanity [es] | Howard Norton | Television film |
| 1988 | A Year in the Life | Gottlieb | |
| 1995 | Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning | McLaughlin | Television film |
| 1995 | It Was Him or Us | None | Television film |

#### As writer

| Year | Title |
| 1992 | Scorch |

#### Miscellaneous crew

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Production consultant | Television film |